Weft-controlling mechanism for looms.



No. 743,292. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

' F. E. KIP.

WEFT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOO-MS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS SHEET '1.

' WITNESSES: g |NVEN TOR BY 7 d @WY M ATTORNEY PATENTED NOV. 3. 190a.

.VF. E. KIP. WEPT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIGATIOH FILED IEB. 17. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR- 'a AgRNEY uo MODE WITNESSES:

ms PEYERS w, Puma-ma. WASHXNOTOI n c UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 190a.

FREDERIO E. KIP, OF MO NTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

WEFT-CONTROLL ING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,292, dated November 3, 1903. Application fi1ed I ebruary 17. 19:03. Serial No. 143,766. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that'I, FREDERICE. KIP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Montclair, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weft-Gontrolling Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates .to mechanism designed to control the stoppage of the loom or to set in operation a weft-replenishing mechanism when the weft or filling in the running shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined extent.

The invention is adapted especially to don ble-shuttle looms, and is designed to efiect the operation of either the stopping mechanism or the weft-replenishing mechanism upon the occurrence of the above-indicated emergency in either shuttle.

In the following specification I have described a mechanical feeler or detector device which when actuated operates through the usual knock-off mechanism; but it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to a double-shuttle loom either to stop the loom when required or through the usual mechanisms to automatically control the time of operation of the weft-replenishing mechanism. t

Another part of the invention resides in an electrical indicating device controlled by the detector to announce to the attendant weaver that the filling in one or both of the shuttles has been exhausted. 2

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a loom, showing the application of the present invention, certain parts being in section and certain, other parts. being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is .a.

section on the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the plane of the line3 3 of Fig; 1. 'Fig. 4 is view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the position of certain parts when the filling on one-of the fillingholders is exhausted. Fig. 5 is a. detailedperspective View of a part of the con trolling mechanism illustrated in the previ ous figures. Figs. 6 and 7 are views correshow a modified. form of construction. Fig.

means, two of which I have illustrated.

shipper levers.

12 is a side view of the bobbin shown in Fig.

8. -.Figs. l3 and 14 are sectional detail views of controlling devices having adj usting means thereon.

Similar numerals indicate similar parts in the several views. 2

In the present specification for the purpose of illustration I have utilized certain forms of controller-feelers described in my applications Serial No. 107,409, filed May 15, 1902, PatentNo. 724,113, March 31, 1903, and Serial No. 108,454, filed May 22, 1902, Patent No.'724,1l4, March 31, 1903, both for Weftcontrolling mechanisms.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the breast-beam of the loom; 11, the lay; 12, the knock-off lever; 13,the shipperlever; 14,the weft-fork; 15, the Weft-fork slide engaging the knock-off lever; 16 the wefthammer, and 17 the shuttle-box on the lay. All of these parts are Well known and require no detailed description. It may be said, however, that when the vibrating weft- 8o hammer engages the slotted arm 18 of the rocking weft-fork the slide 15- is moved toward the front of the loom, and by rocking the knock-off lever sets free the shipper-lever,

thereby stopping the loom.

In order to accomplish the object of the present invention I have devised several In that form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 a. rock-shaft 32, mounted in suitable supports 33,'has at one end a crank 35, which engages a slotted arm 36, pivotally mounted or hinged at 39 on the weft-fork slide 15. When the shaft 32 is rocked, the crank 35 depresses the free end In double-shuttle looms it is obvious that the shaft 32 should be rocked upon the exhaustion of the filling in either the upper or lower shuttles. This is accomplished by providing a feeler for both the upper and lower On the outer end of each feeler is a suitable head 24 and at the other end there may be lock-nuts 25 or the like to limit the movement. Pivotally mounted in a slot in each feeler or its head at is a lever-trip 31, the shorter arm or heel of which preferably depends below the feeler.

When the lay heats up and the shuttles are properly boxed at this side of the loom,

each feeler enters its box at an aperture 26 therein and also enters the shuttle at a coincident aperture 27 therein. The weft or filling 28 on the bobbin 29 in the shuttle impinges on the'head of the feeler and drives the latter forward or into its casing.

The heel 40 is so disposed that so long as there is a sufficient quantity of filling in both shuttles said heels are held out of contact with the shuttles or eqivalent impinging means and no movement is imparted to the shaft 32; but when the filling is exhausted to a predetermined extent in either shuttle the feeler of that shuttle enters to a greater extent than before and permits the heel 40 to be impinged upon by the side of the shuttle, thus throwing up the lever 31 of that particular feeler.

In order that the shaft 32 may be rocked when the filling in either shuttle is exhausted to a predetermined extent, an arm 41 is secured by suitable means to said shaft 32, and said arm has at its outer end a bearing 42 for a rod 43, said rod being secured in its bearing byaset-screw orothersuitable means. Supported on the rod 43 are arms 34 and 44,

the former extending over in close proximity to or bearing upon the lever 31 on the upper feeler and the latter extending over in close proximity to or bearing upon the lever 31 on the lower feeler. The arms 34 and 44 may be suitably adjusted along the rod 43 by means of set-screws or other means. So long as the heels 40 of the levers 31 are held out of contact with their respective shuttles no motion will be im parted to the shaft 32. When, however, the filling in either one of the shut tles is exhausted to a predetermined extent, as illustrated in the upper shuttle in Fig. 4,

the heel 40 of lever 31 of the upper feeler is impinged upon bythe side of the shuttle, thereby raising the long arm of said lever and with it the arm 34. The effect of such movement is to rock shaft 32.

If the exhaustion-occurs in the lower shuttle, the arm 44 is raised in a similarmanner driven into the pusher.

as that above described, with the same effect upon the shaft 32. When said shaft is thus rocked by the movement of either the arm 34 or the arm 44, the crank 35 depresses the free end of arm 36 into the path of the vibrating weft-hammer 16, thus moving the weft-fork slide 15 and knock-01f lever 12 and stopping the loom through the medium of the shipper-lever.

A spring 45, secured to the lower end of rod 43 and to a fixed part of the loom, serves to retain the arms 34 and 44 in their normal positions.

The weft or filling exhaustion indicating mechanism above described comprises, in effect, two independently-operable divisions, one adapted to cooperate with the upper shuttle and the other with the lower shuttle, both of said divisions being connected through a single means to the rock-shaft 32, such connection, as shown, being a bell crank lever carrying suitable contact-arms 34 and 44.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modified form of controller-feeler adapted to doubleshuttle looms, such form utilizing some of the features of my Patent No. 724,113. This modification comprises a carriage 60, slidably mounted in a guide on a bracket forming a prolongation of the breast-beam. A yielding pusher 53, backed bya spring 54,is mounted to slide longitudinallyin the carriage 60. An arm 55 on the pusher 53 projects through a slot 56 in one arm of a lever 57, fulcrumed in bearings on the carriage 60, whereby if the arm 55 isin engagement with the lever 57 when the pusher is driven in by impingement against the side of the shuttle through aperture 26 said pusher will carry the carriage with it. To prevent this taking place at each alternate beat up of the lay and to permit it to occur at predetermined times, a trippingfeeler 58 is employed. This is backed by a relatively light spring 59 and is mounted slidably in the pusher 53 and carries a collar 62, which plays in a slot in the pusher and is adapted to engage the shorter arm of the lever 57. The head of feeler 58 is adapted to enter an aperture 27 in the side of the shuttle when the lay beats up and is impinged upon by the filling 28, the feeler being thus This occurs during the normal operation of the loom, and as the proportions are such that the feeler 58 is first impinged upon and driven in before the .pusher 53 is struck by the shuttle it follows that the collar 62, acting on the shorter arm of the lever 57, throws said lever out of the path of the arm 55 on the pusher before the latter is moved. When the filling shall have become exhausted to a predetermined extent, the shuttle will impinge upon the pusher and move it into engagement with the lever 57, the effect being to move the carriage 60.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the controllerfeeler comprises two divisions, one cooperating with the upper shuttle-and the other with the lower shuttle. The parts of the divisions cess or aperture.

are similar, so that the description abovev given applies to both. To adapt this form of controller to double-shuttle looms, I provide a rod 63, having a suitable bearing, if necessary, and suitably connected to set for operation the loom-controlling mechanism. The rod 63 carries a cross head or bar 62,

adapted to engage lugs 61 on both the upper:

and lower carriages 60. It is obvious that when either carriage is moved upon exhaustion of the filling, as indicated in Fig.

7, the impingement of the lug 61 against the cross-head 62 will impart a longitudinal movement to the connecting-rod '63, thus setting for operation theloom-controlling mechanism.

In all of the forms of devices herein illustrated there will bealways a predetermined amount of surplus filling or initial winding of filling remaining on the bobbin orfilling:

holder at the time of actuation of the weftcontrolling device.

barrel being recessed at that point. In Figs.

8, 10, and 12 this surplus filling may be ad-:

vantageously situated in a groove 65 at the end of the bobbin or filling-holder, said bobbin having an aperture 66 extending entirely through the barrel at the steps, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, or recessed at 67 at diametrically opposite sides, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Abobbin so provided with recesses or with an aperture permits the feeler to enter:

the shuttle to a considerable extentat the next beat up of the lay'after the fillinghas been removed from over the mouth of the rethe shuttle against the actuating parts of the detector-feelers may be delayed until the filling is wholly exhausted from the body of the bobbin, leaving unused only the amount of surplus in the groove 65. In fact, it is possible with either form of bobbin shown to ex haust the filling down to the surplus in the groove 65. For shuttles other than selfthreaders-that is, those in which the bobbin is knocked in, owing to various conditions of weaving and character of the threadit may be desirable to locate the recess or aperture in the barrel at the steps. For certain classes of weaving it is especially advantageous to have the aperture extending completely through the bobbin or to recessthe bobbin upon two diametrically opposite sides for the reason that the barrel of the bobbin is often out of alinement due to warping. If there is a recess upon one side only, the delivery end of the bobbin or filling-holder in such case would not lie central in the shuttle, and the filling would therefore break in paying ofi. 1

By having an aperture extending entirely through the bobbin or having a. recess on both sides the bobbin or filling-holder if out of alinement may be turned so asto bring it into alinement.

' Where the loom may be stopped from any one of a number of causes, it is important that.

In Figal this surplus is shown situated on the barrel of the bobbin at the point 64, where the feeler strikes, said Thus-the impingement of .47, and 48, each comprising a gravity dropplate 49, hinged to the box or casing, similar to the form described in the application of William H. Baker and myself, Serial No. 83,497, filed'November 25, 1901. Any other form of indicator may be used, the essential feature being that it shall give. notice to the weaver that the filling has become exhausted. In the present example I attach an arm 50 to the shaft 32, said arm having at its outer end a contact-piece 51". When said shaft is rocked, as before described, the arm 50 is brought into engagement with terminal plates 51, included in a circuit 52, thereby closing said circuit and causing the plate 49 to drop, as fully described in said application Serial No. 88,497. The particular indicator 46 shows the weaver that the filling has become exhausted, inasmuch as the circuit 52 is closed only when the shaft 32 is rocked through the operation of the controller-feeler. The other indicators 47 and 48 maybe connected to stop-motion mechanisms-as, for example, a suitable warp stop-motion.

As shuttles vary in width, it is necessary or desirable that the relative distances between the two impinging-points of the controller may be adjustable or varied within certain limits. This adj ustability may be socured in various ways-as, for example, as shown in Fig. 13, a screw-threaded shank 68, extending through a hole in the short arm of the trip-lever 13, is provided with a head 69, adapted to be impinged upon by the shuttle, and with two lock-nuts 70, which bear, respectively, on opposite faces of said arm. By adjusting the nuts 70. the head 69 may be moved in or out to adapt it to various conditions met with in practical work, so that the trip-lever will be impinged upon only when the filling in the shuttle is exhausted to exactly the desired extent.

In Fig. 14 I have shown the feeler-rod of Figs. 6 and 7 screw-threaded at its outer end 71 and a head 72 interiorly threaded and adjustable along said rod. The same result may be accomplished by the adjustment of the collar 62 along the feeler-rod 58 by means of a set-screw 73. r

Other means for effecting the. desired adjustment. will readily suggest themselves. Not only is adelicate adjustment provided for by the means above described, but also a firm securing means to prevent shifting of the parts after they have once been adjusted.

Being the first, as I believe, to employ a compound mechanically-operating weft or.

filling exhaustion indicating device exterior of the shuttle with means common to both divisions for actuating loom-controlling mech- IIO in Figs. and 11 in my Patent No. 724,114,

above referred to. It is also to be understood that while I have illustrated the invention as applied to loom-stopping mechanism the invention is adapted to be used to control the time of operation of a weft-replenishing mechanism.

By exhaustion or absence or like term as referring to the weft or filling in the shuttle I mean such degree thereof as will permit the controller-feeler to operate while there is sufficient filling in either shuttle to prevent an imperfection in the cloth being woven. By bobbin or weft-holder I mean any form of known weft-holder upon which Weft or filling. is placed for the purpose of feeding it to the web of the cloth.

By the phrase weft or filling exhaustion indicating mechanism is meant a device for controlling the time of operation of a weftreplenishing or loom-stopping mechanism.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a double-shuttle loom, a compound mechanically-operating filling-exhaustion-indicating device having two independentlyoperable divisions, each division having two members, means for impinging first on one of said members and means when exhaustion of the filling permits thereof of impinging first on the other member, loom-controlling mechanism, and means common to both divisions of theindicating device for actuating, when required, said loom-controlling mechanism.

2. In a double-shuttle loom, a filling-exhaustion-indicating device having two independently-operable divisions which are impinged upon at each alternate beat up of the lay, loom-controlling mechanism, and means operatively connected to both of said divisions and to said loom controlling mechanism, whereby when the exhaustion of filling in either shuttle permits thereofsaid connecting means may actuate said loomcontrolling mechanism.

3. In a double-shuttle loom a filling-exhaustion-indicating devicehaving two independently-operable divisions adapted to be impinged upon, loom-controlling mechanism, means intermediate and common to-both said divisions and said loom-controlling mechanism adapted to be actuated by either of said divisions when the exhaustion of the filling permits thereof.

4. In a double-shuttleloom a weft or filling mazes exhaustion indicating device having two in dependently-operable divisions adapted to be impinged upon, loom-controlling mechanism, a rock-shaft connected to said loom-controlling mechanism and means connecting said shaft to both of said divisions whereby said shaft may be actuated by either of said divisions when the exhaustion of the filling permits thereof.

5. A weft or filling exhaustion indicating mechanism for double-shuttle looms comprising a feeler device having two independentlyoperable divisions adapted to be impinged upon by means in the shuttles, loom-controlling mechanism and a rock-shaft connected thereto, a lever device operatively connected to said rock-shaft and to both of said divisions whereby said shaft may be actuated when the filling in either shuttle has been exhausted to a predetermined extent.

6. A weft or filling exhaustion indicating mechanism for double-shuttle looms comprising a feeler device having two independentlyoperable divisions adapted to be impinged upon by means in the shuttles, loom-controlling mechanism comprising a rock-shaft, and a bell-crank lever connected to said shaft and in operative engagement with both of said divisions whereby said shaft may be rocked when the filling in either shuttle has been exhausted to a predetermined extent.

7. In a loom the combination with stopping mechanism, of a mechanical controller-feeler for setting in operation said stopping mechanism, and electromechanical means to announce that the filling has been exhausted.

8. In a loom the combination with stopping mechanism, of a mechanical controller-feeler for setting in operation said stopping mechanism, an electric circuit an indicating device included in said circuit, and means actuated by said controller-feeler to change said circuit when the filling has been exhausted to a predetermined extent.

9. In a loom the combination with stopping mechanism, of a mechanical controller-feeler, a rock-shaft actuated by said controller-feeler to set in operation said loom-stopping mechanism, an electric circuit, an indicating device included in said circuit, and an arm on said shaft adapted to change said circuit when the filling has been exhausted to a predetermined extent.

10. In a double-shuttle loom, a loom-controlling feeler device having two independently-operable divisions, said divisions each consisting of a yieldingly mounted feeler bearing a lever-like tripping device, of means for operating said tripping device in either or both of said divisions when said feelers pass a certain predetermined distance into their respective shuttles, and mechanism common to said tripping devices and adapted to be operated thereby.

11. In a double-shuttle loom, a filling-exhaustion-indicating mechanism having two independently-operable divisions each comprising a yielding feeler adapted to be impinged 'upon by means in the respective shuttles, a normally quiescent lever device carried by said feelers, said lever device having a heel or part which is held out of the path of the shuttle by the feeler during the normal operation of the loom, and mechanism actuated by either of said levers when its heel is permitted to be impinged upon by its respective shuttle through the exhaustion of the filling therein to a predetermined extent.

12. In a double-shuttleloom, filling-exhaustion-indicatin g devices and means to visually announce when the filling in either or both of the shuttles is substantially exhausted.

13. In a double-shuttle loom, filling-exhaustion-indicating devices, and means common to both shuttles including an annunciator for visually indicating the substantial exhaustion of the filling in either or both of the shuttles.

14. A mechanical weft or filling exhaustion indicating mechanism for a loom, comprising a yielding feeler adapted to be impinged upon by means in the shuttle, a normally quiescent lever like tripping device carried by said feeler, said lever device having a heel or part which is held out of the path of the shuttle during, the normal operation of the loom, mechanism actuated by said lever when said heel is permitted to be impinged upon by the shuttle through the exhaustion of the filling therein to a predetermined extent, said feeler normally protruding beyond the impinging 'face of said trip-lever, and means to adjust the degree of projection of the said feeler and the said tripper relatively toeach other.

15. A weft or filling exhaustion indicating mechanism for looms, comprising a feeler adapted to be impinged upon by means in the shuttle, a lever device operatively connected therewith and adapted to remain quiescent as long as a predetermined amount of filling remains in the shuttle, mechanism actuated by the movementof said lever device when the filling in the shuttle has becnexhausted to a predetermined extent, and adj ustable means adapted to vary the degree of projection of the said feeler and said lever device relatively to each other.

16. In a double-shuttle loom, a compound mechanically-operatin g filling-exhaustion-indicating device having two independentlyoperable divisions, each division having two members, means for impinging first on one of said members and means, when exhaustion of the filling'permits thereof, for impinging first on the other member, loom-controlling mechanism, means common to both divisions of the indicating device, for actuating, when required, said loom-controlling mechanism, one of said members protruding at its impinging face beyond the impinging face of the other, and adjustable means adapted to vary the normal extent of said protrusion.

17. In a double-shuttle loom, a controlling filling-exhaustion-indicating device having two independently-operable divisions, means for impinging upon said divisions, loom-controlling mechanism, and means operatively connected to both of said divisions and to said loom-controlling mechanism, said divisions being held inoperative by the presence and made operative by the substantial exhaustion or absence of filling in the shuttles.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIG E. KIP.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. BoDDroKER, FRANK F. OSMERS. 

